Another semi-quasi-black metal band has taken all the "black" out of their music in favor of a relatively fresh and trendy, dare I say, "hipster" sound. Markus Siegenhort, aka Herbst, has fancied his band Lantlôs to contemporary and utopian heights. Provocative and emotive, Lantlôs show every sign of picking up the pieces after their surprising but drama-free divorce from Neige. Wanting to move on, there is no post-Neige hangover here, thank you very much.

Melting Sun pretty much will be a shock to anyone wanting anything resembling Lantlôs's last two releases, .neon and Agape. Those two albums are mighty fine examples of perfect crossbreeding between shoegazing and black metal. Although Neige was relegated to singing on those albums, his influence on the overall sound cannot go unnoticed. Alcest is the measuring stick every metalgaze band wants to size up and Lantlôs have established a demeanor refreshing to a scene fueled with a lack of diversity.

Right from the outset and through the end of this 40-minute spectacle, Melting Sun transits a perfect combination of concrete and aggressive song structures and dreamy, abstract climates. A virtual stockpile of charming and harmonious soft-metal moments, the ascendancy is a welcome change. The album delivers an effort of staggering thickness, savory sadness, and a wandering limitless acceptance. Like most dreampop and shoegaze music, there is a euphoric sense of buildup; the entire vibe of the album creates an almost plodding crescendo of the most overwhelming sense of anticipation.

To me, ever since Líam, Herbst has been a master of forging perfect guitar dispositions and textures. The massive wall of those layered guitar tones are the principal merits on this album. He just has a knack for combining melody and mesmeric moments of audio elation with ruthlessness and anguish. Heavily processed bass guitar, synthesizers, and drum work create a blissy, dreamlike, and majestic sonic template that's equally emotionally intense.

Now that Neige is gone, Herbst has taken over the vocal duties. Nothing special, his voice seems only to aid the darkening sound that somehow now seems to be made more brilliant and prismatic. Moreover, his voice eases along with beautiful melodies and gorgeous passages that collide gracefully with ambient chords and tremelo-picked noodling. Excessive use of reverb and echoey guitar lines allow the songs to vent celestial and spacey beams of light. All of these peripherals collectively are downright transcendent.

We may have to include this new era of Lantlôs under the umbrella of post-rock, and after listening to this incredible album I do not have any doubts Melting Sun will recruit new fans - or put off old ones. I, for one, love the entire package and applaud Herbst for taking a bit of a risk by creating an album under his own terms and conditions. I can't think of any more adjectives to describe this release, just go listen to it and enjoy.

Comments page 2 / 2

Also, as far as Joe. Last time I checked he actually enjoys Alcest debut and Le Secret EP. I like Amesoeurs' vocals D: Also, Flyleaf makes me go just... urgh. The vocals xD
ANYWAYS, about this album. I should give it a spin soon. As I said earlier, I remember liking some of the tracks they released earlier. Lantlôs are definitely doing this shit better than what Alcest is doing nowdays.

Written by Ilham on 03.07.2014 at 05:17But there is no need to have balls to talk to me, look at the sad sods I associate with.

Surprised by the extent of your laziness. Weird, could have sworn you'd love it. I did.

5 years ago I might have, but I tired of the whole post-rock / punk / gaze thing in black metal a long time ago. Had a brief listen of a song from this and it sounded more like post-metal to me. Wasn't bad, but not something I'd really listen to either.

5 years ago I might have, but I tired of the whole post-rock / punk / gaze thing in black metal a long time ago. Had a brief listen of a song from this and it sounded more like post-metal to me. Wasn't bad, but not something I'd really listen to either.

That's exactly it. As I told Jay, I left around the time Neige started provoking erections everywhere. I didn't have the time to get sick of it.

Loved the review Jay. Herbst is developing his own sound nicely and he doesn't seem to be afraid of using this sort of dense, crystal clear production which is not what's standard for the shoegaze/dreampop sort of albums.
The replay value of the album is great too, as I keep finding new details with every subsequent listen (and there has been many).

----
He who is not bold enough
to be stared at from across the abyss
is not bold enough
to stare into it himself.

Holy fuck, I just listened to this again, by myself, with headphones, paying attention to every spec of detail...folks, this is my AOTY. So fucking beautiful, I felt tears comin' on. It just hits the heart in the right spot....no I haven't been drinking.